The nārāyaṇīyam (pronounced naaraayaneeyam or IPA: [nɑːrɑːjəɳiːjəm]) condenses the Bhagavata Purana into 1034 verses, divided into one hundred dasakam, or cantos. The work occupies a very high place in Sanskrit literature, both because of the intense devotional fervour of the verses, and because of their extraordinary literary merit. Thenārāyanīyam is one of the most popular religious texts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and devout Hindus often recite it together in festivals and groups.
Nārāyanīyam is the story of Lord Narayana. It is a work consisting of 1034 slokas or verses, divided into 100 dasakams or chapters, each dasakam consisting of approximately 10 slokas. It is a condensed version of Bhagavata Purana, which consists of 18,000 slokas authored by Veda Vyasa. It is said that the work has the blessings of Lord Krishna or Guruvayoorappan, the presiding Deity of Guruvayur.
Narayaneeyam narrates a series of episodes from the Bhagavata Purana, choosing the most pious of the lot. The incarnations of Vishnu are traced with piety, Bhattathiri transforms the episodes into solemn prayers, pouring out his soul in total supplication before the Lord. The final dasaka, Kesadipaada Varnanam, embodies top-to-toe picture of little Krishna in all grace and glory .
Both as a poem and as a devotional hymn, Narayaneeyam occupies a very high place in Sanskrit literature.
Narayaneeyam is the master piece of Melpathur and is the most widely read of all his works.The poet depicts the image of Lord Guruvayurappan, in exemplary terms - "Sammohanam Mohanal Kantham Kanthinidhanathopi, Madhuram Madhurya Dhuryadapi, Soundaryotharathopi Sundaratharam"
The ‘Parayana' of Narayaneeyam is believed to possess the wonderful power of healing afflictions, both mental and physical, of the devotees. The "Nithyaparayana” of Narayaneeyam will enable the devotees to attain " Ayurarogyasoukhyam”.
Narayaneeya Sapthaham ( the recitation of Narayaneeyam and explaining the meaning to the public) is conducted in Guruvayur temple by Devaswom on the Narayaneeya Dinam and by others as offerings. It is done for seven consecutive days from early morning till 6.10 pm in the evening. Narayaneeya Sapthaham has started in Guruvayur in the early 50's. It takes about 5 hours to read the slokas and about 45 hours for explaining the slokas.
The day on which Narayaneeyam was completed, 28th Vrichikam, is celebrated by the Devaswom as Narayaneeyam day. Discourses and debates on Narayaneeyam written by Melpathur take place. Special functions are held at Melpathur Illapparambu also.

1.
Oh Lord ! Enemy of Madhu ! When Hiranyaksha was killed
by Thee in Thy incarnation as an enormous boar, his brother,
Hiranyakasipu, filled with grief and rage, and although
inwardly afraid of Thee, took a pledge in the assembly of
demons to kill Thee.

2.
He undertook a severe penance to Brahmadeva, and soon
Brahma appeared in front of him and granted him the boon
of not being killed by gods, men, animals etc. Having
obtained such a boon, he became very arrogant and with
total disregard for Thee, tormented this world of which Thou
art the Lord, and took the heaven by force from Indra.

3.
He then came in search of Thee, to Thy abode Vaikunta to kill Thee,
but Thou assuming a subtle form, invisible to his naked eye, entered
his heart and lay hidden there. Looking all round Vaikunta and the
whole world, and not finding Thee, he came back to his own abode
confident that he had conquered Thee and crowing aloud arrogantly
that Thou had run away in fear.

4.
Oh Varada, Grantor of boons !To Hiranyakasipu was born a
son named Prahlada, who while still in his mother's womb,
had come to know about the power of Thy devotion, from
sage Narada. In spite of being born in the demon race, and
although only an infant, he developed extreme love for Thee
and became a prime example to all Thy devotees.

5.
The evilhearted Hiranyakasipu, enraged at his son's slavish
devotion to Thy feet, which is scorned by the demons,
engaged teachers for a long time, to brainwash him of his
beliefs, but Prahlada brushed aside all the teachings of these
tutors, as evil, and grew up with staunch devotion to Thy
feet.

6.
Once when the son was asked to tell which was the best lesson he had
learnt, he replied promptly that devotion to the Lord was the greatest
of all. Disconcerted by this answer, the father became angry with the
teachers; coming to know from them that this was his natural
inclination, he contrived to kill Prahlada, who had taken refuge at Thy
feet, by various devices.

7.
Oh Lord Supreme ! Prahlada was pierced by sharp weapons; he was
trampled upon by hosts of elephants of the quarters, many a time; he
was bitten by huge poisonous snakes; he was starved at times and
given poison to eat; he was even pushed down from the highest
mountaintops. But as he had placed his full faith in Thee, who art
omnipresent, he came to no harm at all.

8.
Alarmed at seeing Prahlada's indestructible state, his evilminded
father, following his tutor's advice, had Prahlada tied up with the
ropes of Varuna, and kept a prisoner in his preceptor's house. Here in
the absence of his teachers, Prahlada taught his classmates, the sons
of demons, the basic lessons of devotion to Thee and that divine
philosophy of Supreme Knowledge.

9.
Coming to know that all the demon children had been induced by
Prahlada into praising Thee, Hiranyakasipu blinded by rage, called him
the bane of the demon race and asked him who his supporter was. To
this the courageous boy replied that Vishnu, the lord of Vaikunta, was
his support and that he was the support of even his father and the
whole world; in fact Vishnu, himself was the three worlds.

10.
Then, Diti's son, Hiranyakasipu, overcome by rage, shouting
repeatedly, where was that Hari, who was said to be the soul of the
whole Universe, swung his sword and struck the pillar in front of him,
breaking it in two. Oh Thou Soul of Mercy ! Oh Thou Soul of the Whole
World ! Oh Thou Omnipresent enshrined in Guruvayur ! I am unable
to continue with this narration. Please bear with me and give me
solace.